Cornetite (TYPE LOCALITY & rare style)

Item Description

Starbursts of lustrous, teal-blue Cornetite beautifully decorate the sandstone matrix on this rare, older specimen from the TYPE LOCALITY - the well-known Star of the Congo Mine. These radial clusters are up to 6 mm across, and their beauty is well-complemented by the grey sandstone. There is even some Malachite and Chrysocolla to add color and mineral interest, as if these outstanding Cornetites weren't enough. An old classic for this mine (still producing material today, although not this particular species), this aesthetic, small cabinet piece was previously in the collection of Gilbert Gauthier, the gentlemanly Belgian exploration geologist who had the most access here as mine manager to many areas of the region in the mid-1900s. From the extensive collection of Bob Reynolds, who cherished both minerals and fossils as he collected. Bob is a prolific author and has had several curating positions in museums.